... just off the top of my head ...

I expected the day to be very busy. I was so excited for I know that I will be productive in the sense that I’ll be able to send my nephew back to school after acquiring and surrendering all the requirements asked. I never thought it would be a long and not so ordinary day. Going out of Guiguinto Vocational High school with smile on our faces for having mission one accomplished, my nephew told me that he couldn’t stand his hunger anymore. And so, we went to ‘Lola’s Place’. It is where he usually ate when he was still studying there (for he dropped out last school year). I don’t know if this is coincidence that led us to where a known foe, together with his gang is. He wasn’t actually my nephew’s mortal enemy, but my niece’s (long story). Anyway, he ate there. While eating, those kids were shouting “ O suntukan na lang!!!” “Uy mataba!” (pertaining to me). I guess they thought I was my nephew’s girlfriend. I looked straight to the eye of this kid and he looked back with the same intensit...

Today, my second nephew had his recognition. He was his class's first honor. He was also awarded as the first in Spelling, Math, Science and General Information Quiz Bee. The feeling was more than overwhelming. It's just  indescribable.   I mean, we did not expect anything from him, even though we know that he's no ordinary kid. This thing, is just a  bonus for our family. I can still remember bringing him to school during his summer class before entering formal education. I would wait for him outside on a swing. We were very anxious because he still has a lot of difficulties in speaking that time (although up until now, his speaking is not yet perfect--he's 13). He's different. He is special. He's well-disciplined, he's very obedient, he's very friendly and always cheerful, he never speaks ill of others and is not capable of harming anyone. Now, he's in grade five, and still very innocent, is always afraid of committing mistakes and always trying ...

The title might sound weird because usually, breaking up goes first before letting go to move on. But for some people and for some despicable reasons, they can’t get unattached to that relationship they’ve outgrown and learned to detest. Our relationship started November 9, 2004 --- but technically, it should have been December 28th of that year (talking about sailing off the wrong way or a vague way rather). The love was so good, so hot and so sweet. It became obsessive and destructive, then giving and constructive. There were too many wonderful memories drawn, but there were too much pain inflicted too. We broke up many times, but then made up after every split. We spank out of love, and made love after then. We were crazy. However, I must admit, my growth was stunted. I was stuck at 18, and worse, the relationship drew out the worst in me. As vague as we started, we ended up the same way. Perhaps ‘ending the relationship’ was a wrong choice of word because even after we’ve decl...

People certainly go to a point of a long pit stop. It is a pit stop that makes one frustrated, disheartened, disabled and full of anxiety. It is that stage that goes deeper the more you fight it. It sucks you like quick sand… It takes all the air that you breathe. It drains all the power and energy you have in that ‘winner-takes-it-all’ combat. You become naked as a new born lamb. You become as helpless as a baby lying in the middle of a jungle. You are immobile, but the world won’t halt for you…You are unable to survive when everyone’s running for their lives. And you are there, defenseless, lying underneath. Then you are consumed in deep thoughts of why’s and muddle… Then you become angry to the world--- and more fatally, to yourself. But why do we pass by a point of crashed tires? Why do we feel like we’re made to fail and are always on the losing end? Is it what we call fate? Is it that bad luck that drives us? Or is it just that we think we’re too tough nuts to open our minds ...

Before reaching Baguio proper, the view looks so wonderful and heavenly. The trees on the mountains kiss the clouds above. Blue, white and green collide to form a perfect horizon. In the dark, a flickering candle looks so gracious from afar. It resembles the glow of a diamond on a black velvet. Mona Lisa on the wall--- it's so amazing as you gaze from among the crowd. Tells so much of beauty and solace of a lady's smile. What a perfect form of art! Drive fast... nearing... nearing... As you reach the mountains, the trees and the clouds become closer. You can even feel them on your fingertips, but when you look around, the horizon's mystery has diminished. It becomes an ordinary sight to look at--- ordinary trees, clouds appear to be but smoke and the mountain's shape flattens. Intently look at the candle's flare. You'll see that its flame has three dull and plain colors, white, blue and yellow or orange perhaps. The harmony is lost ...

I curse, I yearn for vanity, I judge that usually turns out to be a 'misjudgment' and I sometimes go egoistic and always serve the best for myself. I set standards as I live with other people and I expect them to do as I please, then to act according to what I think is right... I get dismayed, vexed and appalled when people fall short on my meter stick. I do things my way. I disregard others' logic, knowledge and even a century of experience, for I believe in my own ways. I am conceited and I always have reasons for everything that I do. You'll never get me hanging with no answers, for I always find my way out even through an evilish argument. I have set an angelic image but I work like a silent black sheep. I carry light and was praised by others, but the flicker was not actually mine. Don't judge, because you know only a little of their perspective. Stop searching for vanity, 'cause you will forever wait unhappily in vain. Set standards for yourself, leave oth...